Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 76 | 14 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 71 | 116 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (43)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“The actions of the characters are stiff but somehow the developer still created smooth and flowing gameplay. The platforming itself is complaint free and, once again, the score and level design are beautiful. The key word for this review is relaxing. Shu didn't blow me away as a platformer but it's still a really solid and enjoyable game.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“"Doesn't meet general quality standards to be called an enjoyable platformer."”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shu is an elegant, attractive and thoughtful 2D platformer that strips away a lot of the excess of its genre rivals. It's still not ripping up any rulebooks or reinventing the wheel, and it's far from the best platformer on the eShop. If you're after a more sedate alternative to Sonic Mania and company, however, it's an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“All said Shu is an absolutely gorgeous game that can likely be enjoyed by gamers of all skill levels as long as they’re ready to challenge themselves. The darkness phases can all be beaten if you’re patient and work out how to cut corners to save time, so even if you feel a little overwhelmed at first some commitment should get you through in the end. I do wish the challenge were more evenly distributed and there were tangible rewards for bothering to collect everything but overall Shu is a solid platforming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shu is a decent 2D platformer that puts gameplay first, and in stripping away needless distractions provides a refreshing and pleasant few hours of fun. The art style and soundtrack are pretty good, giving way to some lovely sights and sounds on your journey, while the ever-changing set of abilities ensures the game is able to provide new challenges throughout. There are numerous collectibles and other goals to encourage players to stick around, although it all feels somewhat inconsequential. Overall, Shu is a fun distraction that goes to show games don't have to be complex in order to entertain.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While it never really shakes up the genre, it ticks all the boxes that platformer fans enjoy. Shu's main campaign doesn't last very long, just a handful of hours, but it's designed so that players will want to continue playing to find every collectible and improve their timing. If you're the kind of player that likes that sort of challenge, Shu may just be for you.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“From the gorgeous, simple visuals to the ever-changing platforming, Shu is an excellent example of what a small developer can do to push the genre forward. For that reason, this game is worth a look for platforming fans.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“In the end, Shu is a well-made platformer that is short but does many things right. It may not be the best, flawless or the most original game out there, but it's a fun and varied journey that's worth taking if you're fond of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A game for the kids, an incredible game that doesn’t outstay its welcome. With a strong sense of style, Shu takes the action platformer genre into its own stride with ultra shine polish and melodic music that’ll warrant listening outside of playing the game. This is a game that’ll age well for its solid game play.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Shu is a short but magnificent game, one which grabs the player from the beginning all the way to its marvelous final level. A platfomer with a steep but fair difficulty curve that never suffers from a boring moment, Shu also features an exquisite audiovisual environment and is more than certain to appeal to a wide variety of players. Truly a work to discover.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Journey into a delightfully quirky world full of unique individuals and beat the oncoming storm set to ravage the World around you.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ultimately Shu is a bit of a strange beast; it’s probably not difficult or substantial enough to appeal to the Super Meat Boy crowd, but also perhaps a little too frustrating to rope in those craving a purely relaxing experience. The near-total lack of a story certainly does it no favours, but on the flip side, when this game really hits its stride, it can be ludicrously entertaining.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Fintendo
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
Nintendojo
Worth Playing
GameGrin
FNintendo
GameSkinny
Flickering Myth…and 31 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Free DLC Update 2!May 24, 2017
- Free DLC Update 2!May 24, 2017
- Free DLC Update: Caverns Of The NightjarsApr 14, 2017
- Free DLC Update: Caverns Of The NightjarsApr 14, 2017
- Shu v1.1.0Oct 26, 2016
- Shu v1.1.0Oct 26, 2016
- Shu v1.0.1 is now live!Oct 12, 2016
- Shu v1.0.1 is now live!Oct 12, 2016